Flats strips collection



Oct. 19, 1965 F L R ETAL 3,212,138

FLATS STRIPS COLLECTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 16, 1962 INVENTORS MAX J. FOWLER OTIS L. LANDERS BY ERNST NAGEL ATTORNEYS O 1965 M. J. FOWLER ETAL FLATS STRIPS COLLECTION Filed April 16, 1962 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MAX J. FOWLER OTIS L. LANDERS ERNST NAGEL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,212,138 FLATS STRIPS CULLECTION Max JI. Fowler, Otis L. Landers, and Ernst Nagel, Charlotte, N.C., assiguors to Pneumafil Corporation, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,811 3 Claims. (Cl. 19107) In the fabrication of textiles, a variety of problems are engendered as a result of the waste materials such as lint, fly, and the like textile fibers thrown off and removed during the processing of the textile fibers into the finished product. For purposes of economy, and efficiency of production it is desirable that these wastes be kept to a minimum since their presence in the mill interferes with the health and efliciency of the mill workers, and additionally interferes with machine operation. To this end the equipment is periodically cleaned during operation, and complete shutdown of the equipment is necessary at given intervals for more complete cleaning. Since the waste may often be reprocessed, it is further desirable to maintain any collected waste free of contamination by other foreign matter.

On a cotton card, the waste removed from the card lap during carding is generally of a relatively high value, the collection of these wastes free of contamination is obviously desirable. It is additionally, as in all production steps, desirable to minimize the downtime of the equipment as well as reducing the care required by an operator to obtain eflicient production.

To this end, it has been proposed to utilize a pneumatic waste collection system in which a collecting duct is arranged adjacent the point of the equipment where waste may be removed, to implement the collection of the removed waste. Where this pneumatic system is employed in a mill installation, the required air supplies to etfect necessary waste collection often requires pneumatic system components of dimensions and capacities which mitigate against eflicient installation in conjunction with the textile equipment. On a textile card, where a pneumatic waste collection duct is employed to collect flats strips, continuous air flow in the collection duct breaks down the strips, reducing their quality and interfering with etficient collection.

It is with the above problems and desiderata in mind that the present means, including both method and apparatus, have been evolved, means serving to implement the collection of flats strips from a textile card in a relatively automatic continuous fashion, preventing contamination of the collected strips by waste of lesser value, and minimizing equipment downtime, and the time required of an operator to effect strips collection. Additionally, the novel means is such as to permit ready installation with respect to the equipment in conjunction with which used.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide improved flats strips collection means.

Another object of the invention is to provide relatively automatic collection of flats strips without necessitating manual strips removal thus reducing the required care of an operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved pneumatic flats strips collection means.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a pneumatic flats strips collection system in which a plurality of cards may have their flats strips collected pneumatically with an air supply from a single source of a capacity such as would normally be required by a single card.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pneumatic waste collection system having minimal air handling requirements.

ice

These and other objects of the invention which will become hereafter apparent are achieved by providing the textile cards of a mill with an air constraining suction duct arranged beneath the hackle comb utilized for cleaning the spiral brush which cleans the flats of the card. The positioning of the duct is such that the hull, leaf particles, seeds and other foreign matter removed from the card flats by the brush are not picked up in the air stream constrained to flow through the duct. The duct is beneath the flats comb and picks up only the flats strips, uncontaminated by other foreign matter. Since the air handling volume required to maintain continuous air flow through the duct necessitates relatively large capacity air fans and air supply conduits to the various cards in the mill carding room, it is here proposed to provide a novel control arrangement whereby the air requirements to effect flats strips collection is minimized and permits the grouping of a number of cards, and operating only a small portion of them simultaneously. The supply of air to the collection duct is controlled from the continuous motion of the flats to obtain the proper sequencing of air flow. The desired sequence of air flow is obtained by utilizing an air switch energized by a plurality of actuating pins positioned at spaced intervals on the flats. This air switch opens and closes a control damper associated with each card air supply system to provide periodic collection of the strips collecting in the duct.

An important feature of the invention resides in the higher quality waste obtained by the sequentially or intermittently operated air supply to the collecting duct as a result of which there is no disturbance of the flats strips on the flats.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the fact that reduced air handling requirements result from the intermittently provided air stream permitting a single air supply of relatively small dimensions to be used for a plurality of cards, or the like textile fabricating equipment, in which waste is normally removed from the equipment by a combing member.

Another feature of the invention arising from the intermittently operated air stream is that it makes it possible to keep the size of the collecting duct, the separating, and the air handling equipment to an economical minimum.

A further feature of the invention resides in the coordination of the operation of the air handling equipment with the operation of the textile equipment.

The specific details of a preferred embodiment of the invention will be disclosed in conjunction with a cotton card as shown inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational schematic view of a cotton card showing the cylinder, the dofler and the flats of said card with the novel flats strips collector applied thereto; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic piping diagram of the pneumatic switching arrangement employed for controlling flats strips collection at four cards; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the damper employed to control air flow to the collecting duct; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective detail view of a proposed arrangement of the air switch utilized to control intermittent air supplies to the collecting duct.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in the various figures will be employed to designate like parts.

The invention is here disclosed as applied to a cotton card 10 as shown schematically in FIG. 1. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the instant inventive concept may be utilized in conjunction with a variety of fiber processing eqiupment in which relatively compacted masses of waste are removed from the equipment such for example as a comber or the like.

As applied to cotton card 10, the card is formed with the conventional card cylinder 11, doffer 12, doffer bonnet 13, front plate 14, and flats 15. The spiral brush 17 is positioned adjacent the flats to clean foreign matter such as hull and leaf particles, short fiber, and the like from the flats. Hackle comb 18 is arranged in conventional fashion adjacent spiral brush 17 to clean said brush. The trash removed from the brush 17 falls onto the top of doffer bonnet 13.

Waste removing means in the form of flats stripping comb 20 of a conventional type is arranged beneath brush 17 contacting the surface of flats 15 to remove the flats strips designated S.

An air stream constraining strip collecting duct in the form of a trough is positioned beneath flats comb 20 so as to receive the removed strips from the flats and an air conduit 27 extends from the duct 25 (as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 by the dot dash line) to damper box 30 as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Damper box 30 is formed in a rectangular box like configuration and is provided with a damper plate 31 pivotally mounted on shaft 32, with plate 31 seating in damper seat 33 which forms a relatively tight seal thereabout. Damper box 30 is positioned between air conduit 27 and collecting header 35 as seen in FIG. 1. Flange 36 on the damper box 30 implements the securement of the damper box to header 35.

Movement of the damper 31 is controlled by pneumatic control system 40 as shown schematically in FIG. 2. Control system 40 comprises an air main 41 provided with an appropriate shut-off valve 42, filter 43, pressure regulator 44, lubricator 45 and drain valve 46. Air main 41 is coupled to an appropriate source of air 48 such as a pump, storage tank or the like, shown schematically to the right of the drawing. Extending from air main 41 is a flexible branch tube 50 leading to a motor formed by air cylinder 51 (see FIG. 3) through air valve 55 (see FIG. 4). Valve 55 is of a conventional air valve type such as the Tiny Tim put out by the Compressed Air Service Company of Dayton, Ohio and operates as an air switch. This conventional valve is positioned on the card adjacent the flats 15 and is formed with a spring pressed ball member 56 which when forced into the valve opens the passage permitting the flow of air through tube 50 to air cylinder 51. Air cylinder 51, contains a piston coupled to sprocket chain 57 which is trained over sprocket wheel 58 and coupled to anchoring spring 59. Wheel 58 is secured to damper shaft 32 for rotation therewith.

Mounted on flats 15 at spaced intervals therealong, as best seen in FIG. 4, is an actuating member in the form of pin 60. Pins 60 extend beyond the ends of the flats for a distance sufficient to depress ball 56 so as to open valve 55 during the interval of contact of pin 60 with ball 56.

Operation The invention has been described as applied to a cotton card to aid in the collection of flats strips. It will, as above noted, be apparent to those skilled in the art that the inventive concept may additionally be embodied in connection with other fiber processing equipment where waste accumulates in relatively compact masses, such as on combers or the like.

As disclosed in conjunction with a cotton card, the waste removal is accomplished by means of the flats brush 17 and flats stripper comb 20. The fibers, seeds and the like foreign matter removed by brush 17 is a low order waste having little or no commercial value. The flats strips S however is among the most highly valued waste in the mill and lends itself to ready reprocessing. By the utilization of the instant invention this highly valued waste is kept free of contamination by wastes of lesser value and is continuously collected without requiring either shutdown of the apparatus or care by the card room tender or clean-up hand.

In use, the card is set into operation and the air supply through collecting header 35 and control system 40 is initiated. Movement of flats 15 periodically brings one of pins 60 into contact with ball 56 of valve 55. During this period of contact, air flows through tube 50 to air cylinder 51 acting on the piston in cylinder 51 to pull sprocket chain 57 against the action of anchoring spring 59. The movement of the sprocket chain 57 rotates sprocket wheel 58 and damper shaft 32 to raise damper plate 31 to a position permitting air flow through conduit 27. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the air flow through conduit 27 exerts a suction in collecting duct 25 to remove the flats strips collected therein. These flats strips are drawn through conduit 27 to header 35 to a central collection point.

After the pin 60 has moved from contact with valve ball 56 the flow of air through tube 50 is shut off Whereupon spring 59 returns the sprocket chain 57 and the damper plate 31 to a position preventing the flow of air to duct 25.

It is thus seen that the flow of air to duct 25 is over a period of rather short duration, as determined by the speed of travel of the flats, and is intermittent. The major portion of the collecting action of the duct is during an interval when there is no air flow, and the period of air flow is such that the collecting duct 25 is relatively filled with the flats strips so that the effect of the air flow will be on the collected flats strips rather than on the ambient surroundings whereby no extraneous foreign matter will be drawn into the collected flats strips waste, and there will be little or no damage to the flats strips during removal.

It is thus seen that a simple novel collecting system has been provided having particular utility in connection with cotton carding, but obviously utilizable in connection with any processing equipment in which relatively compacted masses of waste are removed. Where applied to a cotton card for flats strips collection, the novel collecting means serves to permit relatively automatic and continuous collection of the flats strips uncontaminated by less desirable wastes, and not requiring excessive air handling quantities, operators care, or equipment shutdown.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation, and not by way of limitation, and it is desired to protect all embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile card having a card cylinder, card flats moving with respect to said cylinder and a flats comb removing the flats strips, means for collecting the removed flats strips, said means comprising: a collecting duct positioned beneath the flats comb to receive the flats strips removed by the comb; an air conduit coupled to said duct; a damper in said conduit controlling the flow of air therethrough; a pneumatic cylinder coupled to said damper to move same; an air branch tube coupled to said pneumatic cylinder; a switch member positioned on the card adjacent the flats, said switch member arranged in said branch tube to control air fiow therethrough to said pneumatic cylinder; and switch actuating members arranged at spaced intervals along the flats, whereby the positioning of said damper will be controlled as a function of the movement of the flats to provide intermittent air flow to said collecting duct.

2. In apparatus for collecting waste from textile fabricating equipment: a collecting trough within which the waste is received; an air conduit coupled to said trough; a damper box having an inlet opening therein to which said conduit is connected; a collecting header having an inlet opening over which an outlet opening of said damper box is secured to permit air flow from said conduit through said damper box to said header; a damper member movably mounted in said damper box between a position preventing air fiow therethrough and a position permitting air flow between said conduit and said header; a motor controlling damper movement; means intermittently energizing said motor to effect periodic movement of the damper member between an air passing position and an air blocking position, whereby the waste collected in said trough will be periodically fed to said collecting header; said damper box being of a rectangular box-like configuration having an open wall forming the outlet opening to said damper box with flanges thereabout implementing securement of said box to said collecting header; said damper member comprising a plate pivotally mounted in said box; and said motor being mounted on said box; a shaft extending from said motor operatively connected to said damper member so that movement of said shaft effects movement of said damper member.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said motor comprises an air cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; a sprocket chain coupled to said piston; a sprocket Wheel over which said chain is trained; said wheel mounted on the shaft to which the damper member is operatively connected, whereby admission of air to said cylinder displaces the piston to eiTect movement of said damper member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,355,157 10/20 McLean 23615 2,169,150 8/39 Johnson 23615 2,683,901 7/54 Griswold 19107 X FOREIGN PATENTS 417,526 9/10 France.

3,180 1901 Great Britain. 6,633 1913 Great Britain. 7,565 1915 Great Britain. 13,474 1915 Great Britain. 20,065 1914 Great Britain. 437,795 7/ 48 Italy.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TEXTILE CARD HAVING A CARD CYLINDER, CARD FLATS MOVING WITH RESPECT TO SAID CYLINDER AND A FLATS COMB REMOVIONG THE FLATS STRIPS, MEANS FOR COLLECTING THE REMOVED FLATS STRIPS, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: A COLLECTING DUCT POSITIONED BENEATH THE FLATS COMB TO RECEIVE THE FLATS STRIPS REMOVED BY THE COMB; AN AIR CONDUIT COUPLED TO SAID DUCT; A DAMPER IN SAID CONDUIT CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF AIR THERETHROUGH; A PNEUMATIC CYLINDER COUPLED TO SAID DAMPER TO MOVE SAME; AN AIR BRANCH TUBE COUPLED TO SAID PNEUMATIC CYLINDER; A SWITCH MEMBER POSITIONED ON THE CARD ADJACENT THE FLATS, SAID SWITCH MEMBER ARRANGED IN SAID BRANCH TUBE TO CONTROL AIR FLOW THERETHROUGH TO SAID PNEUMATIC CYLINDER; AND SWITCH ACTUATING MEMBERS ARRANGED AT SPACED IONTERVALS ALONG THE FLATS, WHEREBY THE POSITIONING OF SAID DAMPER WILL BE CONTROLLED AS A FUNCTION OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE FLATS TO PROVIDE IONTERMITTENT AIR FLOW TO SAID COLLECTING DUCT. 